John O'Brien News
Supreme Court: Claims from out-of-state plaintiffs shouldn't be filed in California; Will it affect Madison County's national docket?
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Supreme Court has overturned rulings made by three California courts that concluded they had specific jurisdiction over lawsuits brought by out-of-state residents against a company not incorporated or headquartered there.
Sheldon Silver, a high-ranking N.Y. politician and asbestos lawyer, found guilty of corruption
NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) – Sheldon Silver, a once-powerful politician who worked at one of the most prominent asbestos law firms in the country, was found guilty of corruption by a federal jury on Monday. The verdict against Silver, a Democrat who was the speaker of the Assembly prior to the indictment against him, came in the fifth week of the trial, the New York Times reported.
Asbestos claimants’ reps fight against unsealing of information in Garlock case
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A group that represents claimants harmed by asbestos says two recent requests for sealed information that led to a landmark ruling in Garlock Sealing Technologies’ bankruptcy case should have to wait.
New Hampshire Supreme Court decertifies Tillery 'light' tobacco case
Tillery CONCORD, N.H. (Legal Newsline) - Another state supreme court has rejected a class action lawsuit that claims tobacco companies misled customers by labeling some cigarettes as "light."
U.S. SC rules for ObamaCare, calls mandate a tax
Roberts WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - The U.S. Supreme Court ruled on Thursday that the controversial provision of health care reform requiring individuals to purchase insurance or face a financial penalty is a constitutional tax.
Seventh Circuit says class action against Shell ultimately pointless; Madison County case settled for $7 million last year
Easterbrook CHICAGO (Legal Newsline) - A federal appeals judge had trouble finding the purpose of a class action lawsuit filed against Shell over its credit card receipts.
Philly again the biggest 'Judicial Hellhole'; Madison-St.Clair counties ranked 5th
Joyce WASHINGTON - Philadelphia's civil courts system has been named the nation's worst by the American Tort Reform Foundation for a second consecutive year.
Asbestos fraud the subject of House hearing
Franks WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - A House subcommittee plans to hold a hearing on fraud and abuse in the asbestos compensation system on Friday.
Scruggs, other shady lawyers highlighted in film
Scruggs WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - A documentary that debuts Monday night chronicles personal injury lawyers who abused America's civil justice system.
Federal agency ticks off state attorneys general
Zoeller WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - The nation's state attorneys general are claiming the federal Office of the Comptroller of the Currency has been attempting to preempt state consumer protection laws for a decade.
ATRA lawyer says movie slashed key part of argument
Schwartz WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - A tort reform advocate who was interviewed for a documentary that debuts Monday on HBO says his comments were taken out of context, though the filmmaker is defending her editing.
Insurers, business groups and tort reformers file brief opposing secondhand exposure theory
Stack A coming ruling from the Illinois Supreme Court could offer asbestos attorneys with a new group of plaintiffs based on a case arising from Madison County.
Kilbride trying to act Republican in order to win, party says
Kilbride CHICAGO - Illinois' Republican Party says state Supreme Court Justice Thomas Kilbride wants to trick voters into thinking he's a member of the GOP.
Attorney sees asbestos rebound in Madison County
Stengel WASHINGTON - To attorney James Stengel, Madison County's appeal to plaintiffs lawyers exceeded favorable judges and juries.
Tobacco settlement survives another challenge, appeal coming
Bader NEW ORLEANS - A federal appeals court decided Tuesday that 1998's Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement is constitutional, ruling against a challenge by the Competitive Enterprise Institute.
Trial lawyer tax break attracts attention of two dozen senators
Thune WASHINGTON - One-quarter of the U.S. Senate has expressed concern that the U.S. Department of the Treasury may be planning to issue an order giving trial lawyers tax breaks on contingency fee lawsuits.
Sources: Trial lawyers expect tax break from Treasury Department
VANCOUVER, Canada - The nation's trial lawyer group, the American Association for Justice, revealed Tuesday that it expects the U.S. Department of Treasury to soon give its members a tax break on contingency fee lawsuits.
Manhattan Institute probes lobbying efforts of lawyers
Copland NEW YORK - The Manhattan Institute's latest edition in its "Trial Lawyers, Inc.," series explores the effect the plaintiffs bar has on lawmakers at the state level and in Washington, D.C.